Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-22
DISTURBED TRAFFIC.
ARGUMENTS HEARD BY THE IN.
TERSTATE COMMISSION.
Pacific Coast Interests in Peril
Threatened Stagnation Of Bust
ness-The Complaint General.
ESPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE RECORD uN1oS.l

New YORK, April 21st.-A representative
OF the Mail and Express at Chicago learns,
upon unquestionable authority, that for
the purpose of making test case which
will define certain clauses of the interstate
commerce law, the general passenger agent
of an important road has promised to give
special rates to the manager of a noted
amusement company for the transporta-
ton of his people and baggage. As the
penalty for the offense is Imprisonment
for both parties, and both are willing to
risk it in the interest of legal interpreta-
ton upon the clauses which may give
ground for subsequent appeals and con-
structions, the result may be an important
one.
OVERLAND TRAFFIC AFFECTED.
NEW YORK, April 21st-The following
statement is made by an official of the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad: Considerable in
quiry is made to know to what extent the
interstate commerce bill has affected over
land traffic. The shipments of green fruits,
sugar and wool by rail are believed to have
been practically shut off, so far as points
east of the Missouri river are concerned,
and that much of the heavy west bound
tonnage will go by sailing vessels round
Cape Horn"
THE FRUIT INTEREST.
WASHINGTON. April 21st.--The following
kilograms have been received by the Inter
state Commission:
SAN FRANCISCO April 81, 1857.
Hon. T. ". Cooley: The large and Important
trade in canned and dried fruits and raisins has
in its infancy. The articles mentioned are dis
placing foreign productions and deserve recog-
milton and support. large amount of CAPITAL
is invested in the production of these articles,
and it is seriously jeopardized by the working
of the interstate commerce bill. Affairs are I'M
settled and as many are in doubt an alarm, we
respectfully ask, inasmuch as these articles can
not avail themselves of water transportation,
that Section of the interstate commerce bill
be suspended so that the business in the pro-
ducts mentioned may not be entirely paralyzed
and great loss ensue.
Signed: Amazon, Gray & Co., and fourteen
other packing firms.
SAN JOSE, April q, 1887.
Hon. T. ". Cooley: The New Almaden is the
largest quicksilver producing mine in the
United States. Its principal market is in New
York, where its production comes into competi-
ton with Spanish quicksilver shipped at the
lowest rates of freight from London. The
present transcontinental rates shut us out of the
New York market entirely, and will have, con
sequently, disastrous effect on this industry.
]. B. RANDoL, Manager.
OTHER PETITIONS,
WASHINGTON, April 21sl-C. NJ. Wicker,
representing the Board of Trade and the
merchants of Chicago, telegraphed asking
the Commission to withhold its decision
until an argument can be submitted in
favor of the suspension of the long and
short haul clause on Pacific coast traffic,
provided rates from the great lakes and the
Mississippi valley be made in proportion
by less than from the Atlantic seaboard, as
has been the case in the past
kilograms signed by W. T. CARAT. Pres
ldent of the Manufacturers Association of
California, and the committee of San Fran
cisco merchants, were received, saying that
memorials had been mailed containing
potent arguments against the suspension of
the fourth section of the Act
The Chamber of Commerce of San Fran.
cisco telegraphed fayoring exception from
the operation of Section of special cases
requiring rapid transit.
Charles H. Tweed, of New York, ad-
dressed the Commission in behalf of the
prayer of the Southern Pacific Company
for the suspension of the fourth section of
the law. A similar petition contained an
address by the attorney of the Atchison.
Topeka and Santa Fe road, also bv General
Nllilam Belknap, representing the st.
Louis and San Francisco road. COMPETE
ton of the steamship routes was the prin-
cipal occasion for the petitions. Mr.. Tweed
gave notice that Judge Dillon, representing
the Union Pacific. would be here to-mor-
row.
George Gray, attorney of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, addressed the Commits
sion. He said that in an examination of
the fourth section he had reached the con-
cusion that the railroads should not take
it upon themselves to determine what con-
stituted similar circumstances and condi.
lions" and filed petition substantially
similar in purport to those presented by
the Southern Pacific
j. E, Searles, of New York, representing
the sugar refiners of the East, including st
Louis refneries. entered protest against
the granting of the San Francisco refiners
petition.
Further hearing of tie Pacific coast peti-
tons were continued until to- morrow.